Top Menu

Microsoft targets Symbian developers with Windows Phone tools package

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) continues its efforts to attract mobile software developers to its Windows Phone platform, teaming with Nokia (NYSE:NOK) to assemble a new package of tools and resources targeting Symbian app makers. Most notably, Microsoft is adding Symbian Qt to its Windows Phone API mapping tool in an effort to accelerate the developer learning curve, with a focus on the core libraries for Qt 4.7 for Symbian, like QtCore, QtGui, QtLocation, QtNetwork, QtSensors, QtSql, QtXml, QtWebKit, QML Elements and QML Components.

In February 2011, Nokia named Windows Phone its primary smartphone platform moving forward, two months later transferring its Symbian software activities as well as about 3,000 employees to global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing firm Accenture. Nokia has nevertheless vowed to continue leveraging previous investments and said it will strive to retain and transition its installed base of 200 million Symbian device owners worldwide. The device maker has also stated it expects to sell roughly 150 million additional Symbian units in the years ahead.